Pays d’Aix is the winner of the week in the French Championship.
The team from Aix-en-Provence recorded two away wins. Firstly, Pays d’Aix edged out Noisy-le-Sec in the postponed derby of round 14. A few days later, Aix easily defeated Reims.
2020/21 French League
Day 14
Noisy-le-Sec – Pays d’Aix 12:13 (5:2, 1:3, 3:3, 3:5)
Noisy-le-Sec: Hansen 3, Petkovic 3, Caumette 2, Peisson 2, Marzouki 1, Rasovic 1.
Pays d’Aix : Popadic 4, Gagulic 3, Dino 2, Veron 1, Khasz 1, Djerkovic 1, Monneret 1.
Day 16
Marseille – Montpellier 11:8 (3:1, 0:3, 4:1, 4:3)
Marseille: Crousillat 3, Kovacevic 2, Vukicevic 2, Cuckovic 1, Prlainovic 1, Vernoux 1, Camarasa 1.
Montpellier: Delas 3, Piot 1, Vasseur 1, Mustur 1, Ivankovic 1, Spilliaert 1.
Reims – Pays d’Aix 6:11 (1:3, 1:3, 2:2, 2:3)
Reims: Pesteric 2, De Bie 1, Calic 1, Vix 1, Le Goff 1.
Pays d’Aix: Dino 4, Popadic 3,Saux 1, Djerkovic 1, Monneret 1, D’Souza 1.
Strasbourg – USB Bordeaux 17:9 (1:3, 4:4, 7:0, 5:2)
Day 19
Sete – Douai 12:6 (2:1, 3:1, 4:2, 3:2)
Sete Natation: Kopeliadis 4, Mijuskovic 2,Beteille 1, Lopinot 1, Alfonso Pozo 1, Furman 1, Porobic 1, Sauton 1.
Douai: Bouet 2, Vitrant 2, Begovic 1, Degaille 1.
The big match of the week was played in Montreuil, the eastern suburbs of Paris, where Noisy-le-Sec hosted Pays d’Aix. The home team took a flying start and earned a 3:0 lead with three goals in the first three minutes. The Parisians maintained the difference until the end of the first quarter (5:2).
At halftime, Noisy was still in front, but it had a slim 6:5 advantage. In the middle of the third period, Pays d’Aix earned its first lead (7:6), but the Parisians regained a minimal advantage before the final quarter (9:8).
After a quick exchange of goals in the first few minutes of the fourth quarter, Noisy had a 10:9 advantage. Then, Pays d’Aix produced a 4:0 series and jumped to a 13:10 lead with 01:28 minutes left. Noisy reduced the gap, but it was too late for a comeback.
Three days later, Pays d’Aix beat Reims convincingly, after it had a 6:2 lead at halftime. Pays d’Aix is still in 4th place. But, after two wins, it has just three points less than Strasbourg and Noisy that are tied in 2nd and 3rd place. Strasbourg has played one match less than Noisy and Aix.
Marseille keeps a perfect record. The French representative in the Champions League defeated Montpellier (11:8). Marseille had a 3:1 advantage after the first period. Montpellier scored three straight goals in the next three minutes and entered the second half leading 4:3. However, Marseille dominated the second half.
After Montpellier’s loss, Douai had a chance to climb into 5th position in the standings (the top six teams will advance to the playoffs). Douai was hosted by Sete, which was in 9th place before this match. But, Sete water polo players proved that it is not easy to beat them in their pool. The home side played very well in defense. They entered the fourth quarter with a five-goal advantage (9:4) and there was no way back for Douai.
Titleholder Strasbourg easily beat Bordeaux.
1 Marseille 15 – 45
2 Strasbourg 14 – 33
3 Noisy-le-Sec 15 – 33
4 Pays d’Aix 15 – 30
5 Montpellier 16 – 24
6 Tourcoing 15 – 23
7 Douai 15 – 22
8 Sete 17 – 14
9 Reims 16 – 13
10 Nice 15 – 8
11 Bordeaux 17 – 0
